The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-06-21

Coliseum and Palatine hill from the
summit of the Capitoline.
The first view of the Forum Is rather
a Disappointing one, for it seems like
a collection of stories and columns,
but as you walk in the streets trod by
the old Rowans, guide book in hand,
the stories and columns faseinate you
to such a degree, that you feel loath
to leave them. Seven columns of the
Temple of Saturn still remain, and
they seem in their grandeur TO defy
the fateful hand of time. On one side
Forum stands the Arch of Septimus
Servius. The has relefs on this Arch
are wonderfully well preserved. I'm
der the Arch, the Via Sacra extends.
The pavement, consisting of lava flags
Is still in good preservation. On one
side Of the Via Sacra Is the Basiiica
Julia. with its four rows of columnless
pedestals. On the opposite side of
the Via were the shops, and it was
from q counter in one of these that
Vrginius Is supposed to have seized
the knife with which he stabbed his
daughter Virginia. Three graceful
columns alone remain Of the Temple
OF Castor and Pollux, and opposite to
these is a pile of bricks and earth,
which once formed a part of the lem
pie of Caesar. 1t was from the ros-
trum Of this temple that Anthony
made his favorite speech relative to
the assassination of Caesar, the body
being at that time before the rostrum.
The rostrum was only few steps
from the Arch OF Septimus SeYerus,
and Cicero's finest orations were de
livered from it. After the assassina-
ton of Cicero. his head and hands
were nailed TO the rostrum, to be
gazed and hooted at by the populace.
Beyond Castor and Pollux Is the
Temple of Yesta, a collection of
small chambers. Opposite this tenn
pie is the Basilica of Constantine, a
grand, majestic ruin. The Arch of
Titus terminates the Via Sacra, and
to this day, many of the Jews, will
not walk under the arch because this
was erected as a Triumphal Arch to
Titus, after his conquest of Jerusa-
lum.
The Coliseum is now reached and
the immensely of it SO stuns one that
it is necessary to stop moment and
catch ones breath, and yet only one
third of the original building now re
mains. The Coliseum, so called from
a colossal statue of Nero. which once
adorned it. Is third of mile in cir
conference. and was capable Of hold
ing $1,000 persons. The seats were
arranged in tiers, there being a cor
ridor behind each tier.
Under the arena are vaults and
passages, where the gladiators and
wild beasts were kept before the
games took place. As looked around
me on this monument OF ages, " these
words Of Byron came into my mind
while stands the Coliseum Rome shall stand.
when falls the Coliseum. Rome shall fall.
And when Rome falls, wirh It shall fall the
World.
Overlooking a portion of the
Forum, IS the Palatine hill, with its
noble ruins Of the palaces OF the
Caesars. The size of these palaces
can hardly be imagined, for there are
underground passages, and chambers,
that few tourists ever dare to inspect
There are ruins also Of temples, and
private houses. One needs especial
mention. for 1t Is very well preserved.
This was the house Of Lima, the moth
er OF Tiberius. where the mural
paintings are in an excellent state Of
preservation.
One Of the pleasantest excursions
that we have taken, was & drive on
the Appian Way, including the ruins
Of the Baths Of CaracaIIa, and the
Catacombs. The Baths Of Caracalla
were the most magnificent IN Rome,
and over q thousand persons could
battle at enc time. The pavement
was Of mosaic, representing the diff
ferent modes of exercising, that the
bathers INDUCED in before the bath.
These mosaics have now been trans
ferred to museums.
The Catacombs were most remark
able. as to the numerous and intricate
passages IN them. Edcn person mad
a taper, and the guide had q long
twist.
The Catacombs are made up Of pas
sages, and chapels, the latter being
very small. The passages were lined |
from top to bottom with inches for
the bodies, and after a body was placed |
in one of them. a marble slab bearing
a suitable inscription closed the |
aperture. We saw a good many frag-
ments Of bones and marble in the |
inches, and two finely preserved |
bodies. Some of our friends had the |
Of being lost in the Gaia
combs. and were more than an hour |
in trying to find familiar passage.
The guide had been so busiIy en-
gagged in talking, that he was not |
aware Of having turned in the wrong !
direction. After leaving the Gaia